By Dale McNish,
Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
TENSION, CHAOS and confusion erupted in the usually quiet Hanover town of Lucea yesterday, as thousands of angry depositors of the troubled Quick Cash Partner Plan vented their anger and demanded the immediate return of their money.
Chaos escalated in the town around mid-morning, as depositors stormed the offices of Quick Cash asking for repayment and when none was forthcoming, went on a rampage looting businesses, smashing vehicles and businessplaces.
"An Office of Disaster Preparedness container with disaster supplies was set ablaze near the premises of the Hanover police headquarters," said Donald Barton, the Lucea Fire Department deputy superintendent.
"It would seem we are going to have a very busy night," Mr. Barton told The Gleaner last night. The firemen were earlier hampered in putting out the blaze due to the blockage of a section of the Haughton Court main road in the town.
The Gleaner learnt that the operator of the scheme, Delores Dale, was taken into custody yesterday following formal reports to the police by three persons who are unable to get withdrawal or repayment. The demonstrators were said to be holding vigil near the entrance of the Hanover police headquarters, where Mrs. Dale is being held.
A team of detectives assigned to the Fraud Squad in Kingston will be in Lucea today to investigate and conduct interviews with depositors in the troubled Quick Cash Partner Plan, with the possibility of pressing charges against its operator.
The operator of the scheme had planned to refund 150 depositors on a daily basis starting yesterday, but The Gleaner was informed that up to 5,000 persons showed up forcing a cancellation of payment. "The boisterous behaviour of depositors who turned up demanding their money back did not lend itself to any meaningful business transaction... the operator said she is willing to repay the money but that the atmosphere was not conducive," said police superintendent in charge of Hanover Anthony Morris.
Since last Tuesday, depositors have been turning up in droves at the Quick Cash offices demanding repayment as rumours of its imminent demise surfaced. According to a statement released last week by its operator, a meeting with depositors was held two weeks ago "to provide assurance in light of all that has happened in other areas and the apparent air of mistrust and uncertainty which prevails".
The statement accused "a small group of persons" who have "gone out and began spreading the wicked rumour and lies about the plan failing and creating all kinds of mischief and discontent". The operator blamed the failure of other partner plans as the reason why a number of persons lost confidence in the Quick Cash operation and had offered depositors the option of withdrawing their money or continuing in the plan.
